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The GCF's fifteenth annual report highlights a record year of programming with USD 3.26 billion approved in 2025 and a total portfolio exceeding USD 20 billion. Key institutional shifts include the establishment of regional offices in Panama City, Amman, Nairobi, Abidjan, and Suva to enhance country ownership and access. The Fund reports a near-parity balance between adaptation and mitigation in nominal terms, with 59.24% of the portfolio in grant equivalent terms dedicated to adaptation. Significant progress was made in private sector engagement, reaching a cumulative USD 7.21 billion. The report also details the 'Efficient GCF' initiative to reduce project appraisal times to nine months or less and the operationalization of a revised accreditation framework.

The IEU report for February to May 2026 outlines the progress of several independent evaluations, including those on gender, the Project Preparation Facility, and the private sector. It highlights the ongoing Third Performance Review (TPR) and the LORTA impact evaluation programme, which supports 23 evaluations. The Unit also reports on its strategic engagement with other multilateral climate funds, the use of AI in evaluation synthesis, and its budget expenditure, which stood at 19% (USD 1.5 million) of the annual budget as of 30 April 2026.

The IEU's 2024 activity report details the completion of evaluations on the energy sector and investment framework, the launch of new evaluations regarding whistleblowers, Indigenous Peoples, and health/food security, and the progress of the LORTA impact evaluation portfolio. A significant portion of the document is dedicated to a synthesis on GCF access, which argues that access has become synonymous with accreditation, creating biases toward countries with strong governance and existing multilateral development bank (MDB) relationships. The report recommends shifting the focus of access from procedural accreditation to country-led needs and exploring alternative models such as National Climate Funds (NCFs).

The 2023 state of global environmental governance was characterized by a tension between significant multilateral achievements and deepening geopolitical fractures. While the world saw the adoption of the BBNJ treaty and the Global Framework on Chemicals, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains dire, with only 15% of targets on track. Climate action reached a milestone with the first Global Stocktake (GST) in Dubai, calling for a transition away from fossil fuels, though critics noted the absence of a full phase-out. Geopolitical tensions, particularly Russia's invasion of Ukraine, have hindered scientific collaboration in the Arctic and increased the use of voting over consensus in treaty negotiations. Financial gaps remain a critical barrier, with calls for a New Global Financing Pact to address the needs of the Global South.

The GCF Board's 31st meeting resulted in the approval of two funding proposals totaling approximately USD 187.6 million, the adoption of an updated accreditation framework, and the re-accreditation of several entities. The Board discussed the Second Performance Review (SPR) and the need for a more effective private sector strategy and simplified approval processes for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The evaluation assesses the performance of the Sumber Solar Power Plant (SPP) in Govisumber aimag, Mongolia. The project, funded by a USD 8.65 million GCF loan and USD 8.9 million in equity, was completed in 2018 and became operational in March 2019. The evaluation concludes that the programme's results were "Satisfactory," noting that the SPP reduced 29,722 tCO2eq of greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2020 and produced 35,076 MWh of electricity. Despite the project's technical success and alignment with Mongolia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, the evaluation highlights shortcomings in gender mainstreaming and the lack of a formal Theory of Change. The programme closed prematurely in December 2020 due to the project developer refinancing the loan with a lower-interest arrangement from their co-investor.

The IEU report for Q1 2022 outlines the completion of an evaluation on investments in least developed countries and the progress of the Second Performance Review (SPR). It details the development of 15 GCF Evaluation Standards to ensure high-quality, credible evidence and reports on the unit's budget expenditure, staffing updates, and communication efforts across various digital platforms.

The report synthesizes evidence from the GCF-1 period, finding that while the institution has established its functional architecture, it continues to struggle with slow accreditation processes, limited direct access for national entities, and poor quality in results measurement and reporting. It highlights a lack of a formal accreditation strategy and persistent policy gaps at the Board level. While the portfolio is growing, most projects are still in early implementation stages, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded existing delays. The report identifies the need for a more strategic approach to paradigm shifts and the mobilization of private sector finance, noting that current results reporting lacks credibility due to inconsistent methodologies.

The review finds that while the GCF Readiness Programme addresses critical capacity-building needs for country-owned climate action, it suffers from a lack of a clear Theory of Change, inefficient application processes, and a heavy reliance on international consultants. Key recommendations include developing a formal Theory of Change, increasing Secretariat and regional advisor capacity, streamlining application timelines, and providing guidance in multiple languages to reduce barriers for non-Anglophone countries.

The GCF Board's fourteenth meeting resulted in the approval of 10 funding proposals totaling approximately USD 788 million and the accreditation of 8 new entities. Key outcomes include the appointment of Mr. Howard Bamsey as Executive Director, the adoption of a strategy for accreditation prioritization, and a performance review of the World Bank as Interim Trustee, which highlighted a challenge regarding direct cash transfers to non-accredited executing entities.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2014-15 details the activities of South Africa's 'Green Scorpions' (EMIs). It reports a 19.8% increase in registered EMIs to 2,294 and highlights a rise in criminal dockets by 8.5%. The report identifies illegal hunting and unlawful commencement of listed activities as the most prevalent crimes. It also documents specific industrial inspections, biodiversity enforcement focusing on rhinoceros and cycads, and the implementation of capacity-building programs for law enforcement and judicial officers.

During the 11th Five-Year Plan, China reduced its energy intensity by 19.06% compared to a 2005 baseline, primarily through the adoption of cleaner technologies and economic structural changes. While administrative and incentive instruments significantly reduced CO2 emissions, total emissions grew by 33.6%, making China the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. The report highlights that while large enterprises and local governments implemented energy-saving measures, small- and medium-sized enterprises lagged behind, and regional competition often prioritized GDP growth over carbon reduction. Looking toward the 12th FYP, the document warns that rising marginal costs and rapid urbanization will make achieving new energy and carbon intensity targets more challenging.

This briefing is a submission to the Eskom Board Social Ethics and Sustainability (SES) Committee for the approval of the revised Eskom Environmental Management Strategy (2017/18 — 2021/22). The document outlines the strategic objectives to reduce Eskom's environmental footprint and position the company as a sustainable business, while detailing specific targets for emissions, water usage, waste, and biodiversity.

The document details SEforALL's five-outcome Theory of Change aimed at achieving SDG7 through gender-sensitive action, global commitments, policy standards, financial mobilization, and direct energy installations. It reports cumulative results including the leveraging of 3.6 billion USD directly and 2.7 billion USD indirectly for energy access and clean energy transitions.